Edgware ‘Home Owning’ Movers and Shakers in 2018

It’s now commonly agreed amongst economists and the general public that the dramatic rise in Edgware property prices of the last six years has come to an end.

Read the National newspapers, and they talk of doom
and gloom in the British housing market with such things as strained
buyer affordability (as property prices
have increased over the past six years at a far faster pace than average
salaries), a lack of new properties being built and the Brexit
uncertainties over the last two and half years being blamed for the slow down –
yet in the last 12 months, people have still been moving, buying and selling in
Edgware at levels similar to the last six years – something tells me we have a
case of ‘bad news selling newspapers’.

So instead, let me share with you what, exactly, is happening in the Edgware property market, and more specifically, who is moving and why in Edgware. The majority of sales in Edgware during the last twelve months were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £595,300. Flats sold for an average of £352,700, with terraced properties fetching approximately £429,600.

In Edgware, in the homeowner sector in 2018 (i.e. owner occupation), 160 households moved within the tenure (i.e. sold the home they owned and bought another one) and 31 new households were created (i.e. they moved from living with family/friends and bought their first home without privately renting).

What does this mean for Edgware buy to let landlords? Well
looking at the graph, it appears bad news for landlords. There were 75
households that moved into the home owning (owner occupation) tenure from the private
rented sector, whilst on the other side of the coin, 59 Edgware households moved
to the private rented sector from owner occupation … which appears on the face
of it, a reduction in the private sector.

My research has
calculated that in 2018, an additional 78 new households
in the Edgware private rental sector were created

…and it will continue to grow at those levels for the
foreseeable future.

I have one final thought and opportunity for you Edgware property
investors. 39 owner occupied households in Edgware sold in last year where the homeowners
had passed away. These properties can be a potential goldmine and offer great
returns. The reason being is some members of the older generation who have
owned these homes for decades have spent money on high capital items (double
glazing / central heating etc.) but not spent money on more superficial low-ticket
items such as up to date carpets, kitchen, bathroom and decorating (vital if
you want to sell your property for top dollar). These properties can often be
bought cheaply because most buyers can’t see past the avocado or brown bathroom
suite from the 1970’s and the dated decor, so if you were to buy wisely and do
the works, you could sell it on for a healthy profit.

So, whatever is happening in the world with Brexit, Trump, China, and the Stock Market … the Edgware housing market is in decent shape for the medium to long term. If we do have small corrections in values in the next 12 to 18 months, in the long term, house prices have always returned … and returned with vengeance. Like I say to anyone buying a property, be they a first time buyer, landlord or homeowner … property is a long game … and if you play the long game, you will always win (although isn’t that true in most aspects of life?).

If you are thinking of selling your Edgware home or If you are a landlord or thinking of becoming one for the first time, and you want to read more articles like this about the Edgware Property Market together with regular postings on what I consider the best buy to let deals in Edgware, out of the many of properties on the market, irrespective of which agent is selling it, then feel free to get in touch! Email me at Steve@benjaminstevens.co.uk

If you are in the area feel free to pop into the office we are based at 194 Station Road Edgware Middlesex HA8 7AT– the kettle is always on.

Don’t forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Edgware Property News.

About the blog

This blog follows the property market in Edgware and the surrounding area, giving insight, analysis and comment on all property related matters and the local property market.
If you are interested in buying, renting, investing in Edgware then this is the blog to follow to keep up to date with all the information you need.

The author

Steve Wayne is the Managing Director of Benjamin Stevens Estate Agents, working locally in property since he was 17
Since 2004 he has had his own firm with branches of Benjamin Stevens in Edgware & Bushey Heath.